[Haunt Reviews] Bates Motel and Hayride - Wickedly Good Times

It's been ages since +Carrie H.C. and I had been to Bates Motel, we're talking like a decade here, so when we got the chance to visit on this trip? We just had to take it since we remembered how great it was and just had to see the improvements that were made over the years. We'd seen what was on the Travel Channel here and there, but it's another matter to see it in person.

Bate Motel features a trio of attractions that are definitely a cut above many other haunts out there, their Haunted Hayride, The Bates Motel and the Haunted Cornmaze. Unfortunately, we didn't quite make the last one there. We were pretty exhausted and still had an hour and a half to drive. Apologies on that, next time we'll get it in for sure!

• Date Visited: 10/11/14
• Review Team: +Carrie H.C., +Filip Muncan and +Kitsune Hazard 
• Rating: Really Damn Good
• Recommendation: Another great haunt in the Philly area, it's like they're hording these things out there. Go, you'll have fun and if you get disappointed, I can't help ya there.
• Likes: Love the creativity and mental nature of the hayride and The Bates Motel never disappoints, and that end scene...what?!
• Dislikes: A few things kinda fell flat on us as a group. Some of the actors could've gotten out of the "scream scare" mode and some of the things just didn't grab us.
• Pro-Tip: VIP is a great way to avoid long lines, which do happen here quite often. Also, be prepared for a lot of uneven ground and other things to deal with. 

Disclaimer: We were invited to attend this year's Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride event and given complimentary tickets to do so. This in no way has effected our views or opinions on what we saw and never will. 

Formalities over with...let's get goin!

After we had pulled into the parking lot and gotten our tickets, we made our way first to the Haunted Hayride. This year they had a few new wrinkles and an all new slaughter house scene that we just had to see first hand.

The unassuming line and loading area definitely do not do this thing justice. It doesn't take very long before you realize that you're entering an entirely new world that's filled with the nightmare fuel that resides in Randy Bates and crew's heads. Oh, and whatever it is...it's very flammable too, tons of fire!

Into the mouth of the beast you go and when you come out? All hell has broken loose. Unlike other hayrides out there, this one doesn't stop at every scene. It's a continuous journey through more and more insanity that seems to go on forever. There's everything from zombies to insane rednecks and even The Bates Motel itself lurking in these woods and we loved the chaos of it all. Actors and larger than life animatronics were everywhere. All manner of creature were grabbing onto folks, playing with others and down right terrifying the rest from outside and inside the wagons. No fear here from them and that's the way it should be! 

There's so much going on that there's not a bad seat in the house and the actors really did their best to work the entire wagon, which is a major bonus point for them here. If anything, a few areas might use one or two more to make the impact that much greater but other than that? Our group couldn't find anything really wrong with things, though, maybe a little less on the audio cues as well...a couple places they could've been done with the real thing.

Now, the reason we did the hayride first, was not only because we were so curious but also because it drops you off right by the entrance to The Bates Motel and the Haunted Cornmaze. Both easy to get to from each other too.

Anyway, our next stop was The Bates Motel itself. This place is a shrine to the bizarre and terrifying. So much of the place changes up every year that it's hard to keep track of it all and for us, many many moons had passed since we saw the insides.

The twisting layout and attention to detail really transport you into a whole new dimension. There's so much to see, I won't even try to describe it all, just trust me on this one, you'll never know where you've gone and where you've been.

You'll be inside, then outside and then back inside again and all the while a new terror is just waiting around the next corner and down the next dark hallway. However, the one thing that definitely sticks out is the finale, that room is crazy. There's so much going on in there, and if you really wanna take it all in, make sure you look everywhere you can!

The only thing we could find that was wrong, or slightly off, was the fact that a few actors were going with the "scream in your ear" route with things and at times seemed to be taking the ultra easy route with their scares. Might've been the way they were directed or could've been something else, just that we saw it a little more than is typical and it only stood out because so many others were being awesome.

So, while we only hit two of the three attractions here, I think it's safe to say that the same level of crazy would've been there as well. I know, it's kind of an incomplete review leaving that out, but sometimes it happens.

Either way, everything we did see was definitely a cut above the rest and with just the few things holding it back, I feel very confident in the rating given. Definitely have to check this one out if you're around the area, even traveling for it and Pennhurst (which is what we did in one night) isn't a bad idea either!

For more information about dates, times, tickets and a whole lot more, head on over to the official Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride website!

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